Air jet propelled helicopter



Mai-ch 5, 1946. A. SBRILLI 2,396,130

7 AIR JET PROPELLED HELICOPTER Filed Jan. 6, 1944 ifi/jOW] Z INVENTORATI'I JRNEYS of the same.

Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED, STATES PATENT ome am m'r PROPELLEDHELICOPTER 1 Anthony Sbrilli, Atlanta, Ga.

Application January 6, 1944, Serial No. 517,237

' 1 Claim. (01.244-17) The invention relates I to aircraft, and moreespecially to air jet propelled helicopters.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- Vision of a craft ofthis character, wherein its construction permits of vertical ascent anddescent for taking-oil and landing of'such craft with speed and accuracyor along a flight path, the craft being under perfect control of theoperator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of craft of thischaracter, wherein the construction of the fuselage is novel and uniquein design,

the power propeller being located in a draft funnel having severalcourses one being for permitting the ascent and descent of the craft,and the other for flight travel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a craft of thischaracter, wherein air Jets control the movements of the said craft,while valves which are manually regulated determine the directionalcourse of such craft. a

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a craft ofthis character, which is vsimple in construction, thoroughly reliableand efficient in operation, strong, durable, readily and easily handled,it being under perfect control of an operator, and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in view the inmouth I5 01' a cone-shapedfunnel I8, which is built with the body I0, its, inner end I! beingwithin the latter, and this funnel I6 is aligned with the longitudinalcentral axis of the fuselage. Extending vertically from the inner end I!of the funnel I6 is an elbowed pipe I8 which is carried through thecrown of the fuselage I Ilto a determined point above the same andbeneath a lifter and descent bladed propeller I9, its axle beingvertically journaled in a bearing 2| arranged within the upper end ofthepipe I8 for the rotation of this propeller I9.

The upper end of the pipe I8 has rotatably fitted thereon the hub 22 ofdiametrically opposed air jet nozzles 23, which are unitary with the huband having at their outer ends reversely turned air emittingtips 24,which are laterally directed at substantially right angles to thenozzles 23 and are immediately below the path of travel of ventionconsists in the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows thepreferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an aircraftconstructed in accordance withthe invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view Similar referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views inthe drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail A designates generally an aircraftconstructed in accordance with the invention, and comprises astreamlined or cigar shaped body I0 which-is the fuselage, having anystandard landing gearing II at its bottom, while at the rear end of thisbody are the elevators and rudder equipments I2 and I3,

respectively, these being also of any, selected con-- the propeller I9.The propeller I9 is formed unitary with the hub 22 and the forced airdischarged from the nozzles 23 creates a reactive force which is causedby the air flowing out of the emitting tips 24. This reactive force willcause the propeller I9 to revolve and gain speed in proportion to thespeed of the rotary bladed propeller I4. The rotation of the propellerI9 in proportion to the rotation of the rotary propeller I4 will eiTectthe vertical ascent and descent of the craft.

Intersecting the elbow connection 25 of the pipe I8 is a rearwardlyextending air discharge conduit 26, which opens directly through therear end of the fuselage'A. The pipe I8 and the conduit 26 are shut-offand opened to the funnel I6 by means ofhand regulated valves 21 and 28,respectively, which at 29 are controlled from within the fuselage A.

When it is desired to-lift the craft or at takeoff thereof the valve 21is fully opened and the valve 28 closed. With the blower I4 operating atfull power the entire fluid supply in jet form will issue from thenozzles 23 and be directed to the lift rotor drive or propeller I9, andthe craft would rise. The forced air being effected from the propellerI4 and the latter is the power medium for ,1 the flight of the craft. Onreaching the desired altitude valve 28 would be opened and valve 21would be partially closed, for forward movement of the craft.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and manner ofoperation of the craft will be clearly understood, and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted for the sake of brevity.

What is claimed is: An aircraft comprising a fuselage, a forwardlyfacing funnel formed in the nose of said fuselage and arranged to directairrearwardly into the fuselage, means in said funnel for forcing airtherethrough, a vertical conduit extending upwardly from the rear end ofsaid funnel, a horizontal conduit extending rearwardly from the rear endof said funnel and terminating in an outlet opening at the tail of saidfuselage, valve means at the junction of said conduits with said funnel,said valve means being arranged for displacement between one terminalposition, wherein communication is fully open between the funnel and thevertical conduit and fully closed between the funnel and the horizontalconduit, and another terminal positlon, wherein communication 'ispartially closed between the funnel and the by air forced through saidvertical conduit will pass into and throughsaid jet rotor to energizesaid jet rotor.

' ANTHONY SBRILLI.

